Scratch on the Magazine

A Trickster Online Story

---

Chapter Two

---

The Feline's Buckler was getting into the later hours of night when other Tricksters from around the island began to become more frequent. As if it hadn't been before, but now the bar was in a good full number, or at least close to it. A few more will still just arriving, hearing that there would be a show tonight to recognize and new comer. It wasn't very common at this bar, and the shows usually held here were something to talk about for a while. Even if they sucked.

Coming in the door last was a small group, two warriors, a magician, and an inventor. All of them had their equipment off, but the staff knew them as regulars, and greeted them kindly. They returned the gestures politely and went and found themselves a table in the middle-front. Aracelia came right over to get orders from them.

"Why hello there boys! I'm not surprised to see you, how nice of you to visit. What would you like to drink?" she asked kindly, leaning over to the side a bit. She smiled and flipped her hair. "Our special tonight is Sea Anemone Rum."

"Sea Anemone Rum? That sounds awkward. I'll have myself a, um.. Pineapple Draft." the lion spoke up, smiling a bit. One of the buffalos gave him a strange look.

"You're awkward, Karnz. I'll try one, specials are always cheaper right?" asked once, leaning over towards her. She smiled and leaned away.

"Fifty galder off, you betcha." she replied, and then glanced at the dragon and the other buffalo. "How about you boys?"

"No, we're fine, thanks.." they both replied in unison, then glanced at each other, then away.

Aracelia giggled and tapped her notebook. "Alrighty then, I'll have those up for you soon."

Karnz raised his hand towards her before she had an opportunity to walk off. "Hey Aracelia, I heard there's a show tonight. What is it?"

"Oh," she paused a minute and turned back to him, pointing at the stage. "We got ourselves a new girl, real pretty, I think you might like her." With an exchanged wink and smirk, she headed off to the back to get their drinks.

"Oh boy, a new girl." said the dragon eagerly, smirking wide. "I can't wait for this."

"Now Keith.." Karnz began, waving his hand and sighing. "You can't boo her and shout how much she sucks this time. It throws them off.. They only suck because of you."

Keith grunted and shook his head. "Yeah, I've been told that before… by a fox." The rest of the table laughed. "She only sucked because of me!"

"Funny." Karnz muttered sarcastically, shaking his head and rolling his eyes as he looked away. "You neither, Louis.. And Xandis, don't encourage him."

Both the buffalos snapped their fingers. "Oh, damn." Xandis muttered, and leaned his cheek against his hand, propped up on the table. "Oh well, if the girl's pretty like Ara says, I'm sure it can't be too bad."

"Yeah well, you know what they say about pretty girls.. Exchange brains for makeup, hahaha!!" Louis said, and once more, all but Karnz laughed, he just grumbled and decided himself to ignore them.

It wasn't that he wasn't in a particularly good mood tonight, just that these three often embarrassed him and he wasn't too fond of it any longer. They dragged him everywhere, and if he was ever lucky he'd get time alone to train, and usually it wasn't too hard to lose them. But he couldn't deny coming here, he always had, just because. Unlike the rest of the attendants here, however, he wasn't much of a pervert, and watched for the entertainment, not the cleavage.

Karnz had come to Caballa Island about a year ago. He wasn't a very senior player though, he trained here and there, did quests other times, and just went around and traveled or played around. He was here just to play the game and escape reality, and even though most other Tricksters had come here for the same reason, he had no specific reason or goal that he was working towards really. He tried not to waste his time with people that seemed inexperienced and unable to understand simple concepts of the game, and as it seemed now, it got dragged towards those types of people anyway.

As much as people thought, he had only job changed recently. About two days ago, in fact, but unlike most inventors, he had a gun that packed far more firepower than he knew what to do with at his level, hence why others believed he was a superior player, but really, he still had half the world to explore. He wasn't very diverse, only going where he had to, and deciding to remain ignorant upon others. That was just his style. And to stand out even more, he changed his outfit's colors at job change just like anyone else. Even though the standard and most common of Inventor colors were white, blue, and black, he decided to be black, white, and silver. His hair as well was a jet black, and combined with his attitude towards others it only raised the volume in his persona that he was not one to trifle with or make upset.

But he didn't want people believing he was an angry or cruel anti-social type either, he was actually the exact opposite. Merely the people he tended to hangout with annoyed him and he'd rather be somewhere else. But the thought of a new show in his favorite bar tonight peaked his interest and he couldn't let down on it.

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted as the lights dimmed and people among the crowd began to cheer, clapping their hands just as a card master MC stepped out onto the stage, which was now lit up by a single spotlight. He waved to a few people and the rest of the crowd, adjusting the mike that was clipped to his shirt collar.

"So how's everyone doing tonight?" he announced loudly, raising his arms to the air. Upon receiving a loud shout out from the crowd, he chuckled and spun around. "Alright then!! We should have the show going on here in a few minutes…! Tonight we have a young fresh new girl, and her name's Secelia! She'll be doing a solo to prove that she's got what ti takes to stay here. So yay or nay her, but not until after the show!" As the crowd gave a cheer of agreement, he bowed and stepped back, pulling aside the curtains. "Then the show shall begin momentarily!"

The MC quickly went back stage, to where Secelia was. She was obviously nervous, fiddling with a small piece of paper in her hand, crumpling and tearing at it. He reassuring patted her shoulder. "Hey, calm down, you'll do just fine. Just dance how you want, don't worry about judgment. We already told you what song we're going to play, so you're prepared, right?"

She sighed and nodded quietly. "Yeah, I'm just scared, that I'll mess up or something." she replied softly, even though that his dance was completely freestyle, others in the crowd might not think so. But then again she wasn't sure at all how this establishment worked, so she'd just have to try. "I'll be fine…"

He patted her shoulder once more and jumped back further stage. "Good girl, remember you come out on cue!"

Secelia sighed, throwing the piece of paper away, and exhaled deeply, remembering what Elicia had taught her, and took a moment to relax herself before she heard the cue about a minute later, and quickly bounded out onto the stage confidently.

Everyone cheered loudly as she came out, just as the MC announced, "And here's Secelia!" The music began, and so she followed along with it, swirling, twirling, bouncing and swaying, and the audience remained quiet through out the entire performance.

Karnz watched with extreme interest. She was very different from other beginner Entertainers… were they sure she was new? He took out his Spyglass device, a mechanical item used in the game to check another user's level, amount of experience, and so on. He raised it up slightly, just enough so he could scan her without detection.

User

Secelia Ovral

Job: Entertainer

Level 51

Experience percentage: 7

Info: Elevated to Level 51 following Job Change. Job Change occurrence: two and a half hours ago. Trained by Skill Master Elicia.

"Interesting.." he muttered quietly, placing the device away after saving the information. He glanced up and continued watching her every move, his eyes following her sways and kicks and twirls, and slowly he felt himself begin to smile… if he wasn't so fixated, he would have noticed. Until it was pointed out, anyway.

"Hey look, he's smiling." Louis muttered to Xandis, who glanced over. He snickered and they both glanced back at the Entertainer, than at him. "Hey Karnz.. Karnz…"

His gaze didn't leave Secelia "What?"

"Have a fancy, now do ya?" he asked, his smirk remaining, When received a harsh glare, he gestured towards the girl. "Oh come now. You're staring like she's a piece of meat."

For some reason, that heavily insulted him. "She is not a piece of meat, Louis. I don't know what your beliefs are, but females are not meant for playthings… or to be called food."

Louis laughed. "Whoa man, sorry. Didn't know you cared that much."

Karnz ignored him, and continued watching silently. After a minute, he got up out of his seat. "You know what? I'm going to the bathroom." he said lowly, and walked off.

"I still think he's in denial." Louis muttered to Xandis, and him and Keith nodded silently.

But really, Karnz had lied to them. He wasn't at all needing to go to the washroom, instead he smartly moved to another section of the bar where there was another free table still close by to the stage. There he sat, waving to some people nearby, and decided to lounge since there was plenty of room there. He crossed once leg over the other, leaning part of his back against the table, which wasn't at all uncomfortable.

As he watched her sing with her smooth young voice, he smiled and watched her move. She was definitely different, something else. Not only was she actually pretty and cute rather than sexy or hot, she was much more skilled than other Entertainers of her level. She has a true passion for what she does, unlike others. he thought, and grinned once more.

I have to meet you some day.

--

Short chapter, I know.. But I just wanted to enter Karnz and have him acknowledge Secelia. More next chapter